How Aude Abou Nasr weaves activism through her richly patterned illustrations

For Aude Abou Nasr, illustration and activism come hand in hand. Working with grassroots NGO’s across the Middle East and Europe, she seeks to “give a more relevant, accurate and critical understanding of the changes operating in the region, within diasporas and among the communities she belongs to”, she explains.

Recently, Aude has worked on a number of diverse initiatives, one being Queering the Map, a project which maps queer testimonies from around the world with a particular focus on South Asia and North Africa. She also recently worked on a Vice x Gal-Dem project, which visually highlights the prevalence of abuse within the music industry. Her works, then – which are distinctive for their characterful line drawings, intricate patterns and use of deep, rich colours – shows Aude’s creative eye as well as her astute political perspective. Usually, Aude begins by drawing her works by hand, before digitally colouring them. Currently, she is working towards digitalising her process further and delving into the world of animation.